Milestone in Astrological Literature

Author's Rating:

Pros: Totally absorbing and thought provoking

Cons: Uses more repetition for emphasis than necessary

Author's Review
I first read this book over a decade ago. It was the first
"real", non-pop astrology book I ever read, and to this day
it has maintained the pride of place in my astrological
bookshelf, along with a few worthy companions. It is evident
that this is Stephen Arroyo's labor of love, and the result
is a clear and comprehensive treatment of the astrological
factors in the birth chart that relate to karma and
self-transformation.

Mr. Arroyo tackles the difficult subject of karma head on
in the very first chapter.
So much of what we know as karma is gross oversimplification at
best, and mindless misunderstanding at worst.
Hindu astrology actually divides karma
into three groups: Pralabd karma is the fate or destiny
that must be met in the present lifetime, Kriyaman karma
is the karma we are creating in this lifetime whose
effects we will face at a later time, and Sinchit karma
is our karmic balance accumulated in previous lifetimes
which we will not have to face in the current lifetime.
Mr. Arroyo helps us understand karma in its various
forms through its connection with several key astrological
factors, namely Saturn, the "karmic" or crises-related signs
Virgo, Pisces and Scorpio, the "water" houses, i.e. the
fourth, eighth, and twelfth, and the Moon.

We are all, each of us, caught up in our individual karmic
machines, giving some and taking some. In every lifetime
we have the opportunity to make a little progress in a
direction that will enable us to transcend this karmic
loop, But every little step in this direction requires
that we transform ourselves in powerful ways. Having set
the stage with a broad discussion of karma, the core
of the book deals with transformation, and how
different factors in the birth chart symbolize the
potentials for different kinds of transformations with
different implications.

Mr. Arroyo contends that all of astrology deals with
transformations, giving every planetary symbol its
due. However, it is universally (or at least
astro-universally) recognized that Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune, and Pluto are the prime significators
of transformation. And in grappling with the actions
of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto is where this book
truly comes alive. Mr. Arroyo expends great effort
to not deliver a "cookbook" of recipes. Instead, he
draws frameworks and broad principles by abstracting
common themes. If you like lots of examples, you
may not like Mr. Arroyo's style. What he gives are
concepts; you can apply them yourself to a thousand
examples once you grasped the essence. This is
his most important and distinctive contribution
as a writer and illustrator of astrological
development.

A good part of the book is devoted to the timing of
cycles that bring transformative potential. The two
major transformation-marking cycles are progressions
(principally of he Sun and Moon) and the transits
of the "outer five planets", namely Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The fact that Jupiter
is included in this list may be puzzling to many who
equate transformation with pain in the sense of
"no pain, no gain". For Jupiter is the "great benefic",
and his actions are seen as positive. But there is
also transformation in expansion of the heart and
mind, going forth to conquer new territories with
hope and optimism, finding one's way in life by
being open to possibilities, and so on.

Strangely, the last three chapters seem to have
been thrown in simply for good measure, a potpourri
of musings on miscellaneous topics and practical advice
to astrological counselors that have no clear
connection with the rest of the book. I did find
these chapters interesting in their own right, but
was puzzled at their inclusion. They just don't
jell with the rest of the book.

That said, "Astrology, Karma, and Transformation" offers
great depth of content. Mr. Arroyo constructs a cohesive
and structured picture of karma and personal transformation
- why we need to transform, where we need to transform,
what are the indicators we see when its "that" time, and
indeed, when are these times most likely to confront us in
our life's journey. I regard this book as a milestone in
astrological literature, a must read and a must have.